RD1 RESULTS: 2025 SOPGA Tour Championship

The opening round of the 2025 Southern Ohio PGA Tour Championship at Scioto Country Club felt exactly like a season finale should: a storied club, a stacked leaderboard and a crispy October morning that gave way to a golden afternoon. The golf gets demanding this time of year and that was certainly the case at Scioto Country Club Tuesday morning.

Two champions share the top of the board. Defending champion Bob Sowards, of Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, and two-time champion Sam Arnold, of Vineyard Golf Course, each signed for rounds of 72. They took different paths to get there.

Arnold led the field in par-breakers, carding three birdies and a spectacular eagle on the par-5 12th. The field played Scioto’s championship routing, which converts the normally scorable par-5 8th into a brutish par 4. Scoring came at a premium. Arnold made double-bogey on the 8th and a bogey on the par-3 9th hole before catching fire. He birdied 10, made the crazy eagle on 12 before following that up with a birdie on the classy, yet challenging 13th. Two more bogeys coming home tempered an otherwise world-class back nine.

Sowards started with four steady pars, highlighted by a remarkable up-and-down at the par-3 4th. From short right of the elevated green, he faced an impossible angle to a middle-pin position. Anything long or above the hole leaves a putt that, as Scioto caddies say, “breaks either way, depending on the green’s mood.” Sowards guessed right—his 15-footer for par found the bottom. Four bogeys and two birdies later, the winning Ohio Cup captain posted his own +2 72.

Behind them, the chasing pack is stacked with some familiar names. Jared Jones of Scioto sits alone in third at four-over 74, just two shots back on his home course. Three players, Kyler Booher, Trent Kopala, and Andy Montgomery, are another stroke behind at +5, setting up a crowded and compelling final round. Ten players are within six shots of the lead.

Scioto shined as it always does. Its greens keep their secrets even from veteran eyes, and when they’re running at nearly 14 on the Stimpmeter, every putt feels like a test of nerve. Birdies were earned, never gifted.

In the Associate Division, Jon McDonald and Max Helgreen are tied at +9. Taylor Holt sits six shots back. Also at stake Wednesday, the 2025 Rolex Women’s Player of the Year. Ashley Thomas has a narrow lead in the points race over Melissa Yeazel. The two are separated by a shot heading into the final round.

 
ROUND 1 RESULTS: Southern Ohio PGA
2025 SOPGA Tour Championship
Scioto Country Club, Columbus
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Blue Golf Hole-by-Hole Results >

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

T1 Sam Arnold, Vineyard Golf Course 72
T1 Bob Sowards, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 72
3 Jared Jones, Scioto Country Club 74
T4 Kyler Booher, Miami Shores Golf Course 75
T4 Trent Kopala, GOLFTEC – Dublin 75
T4 Andy Montgomery, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 75
T7 Alex Martin, Golfweek Junior Tour 76
T7 Andrew Martin, Muirfield Village Golf Club 76
T7 Joe Moore, Beavercreek Golf Club 76
T7 Michael Auterson, Hickory Woods Golf Course 76
T11 Anthony Andrews, Blue Ash Golf Course 77
T11 Chase Wilson, Columbus Country Club 77
13 Jeff Olson, Wedgewood Golf & Country Club 78
T14 Dan Halley, GOLFTEC – Dublin 79
T14 Peter Dornisch, Muirfield Village Golf Club 79
T14 Doug Wade, Off-Par Golf & Social 79
T14 Ben Chandler, Mark MacDonald Golf Academy 79
T18 Matt Brewer, Cincinnati Country Club 80
T18 Chris Black, The View 80
T18 Taylor Suggs, Heritage Club 80
T18 Corey Weckerling, Moraine Country Club 80
T18 Chris Muse, Hickory Hills Golf Club 80
T23 Mike Stills, Jefferson Golf & Country Club 83
T23 Drew Muhich, The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills 83
T23 Michael Mayhugh, Topgolf – Columbus 83
T23 Brad Loomis, Miami View Golf Club 83
T23 Jon Balyeat, Kenwood Country Club 83
T28 Casey Lewis, Sycamore Creek Country Club 84
T28 Richard Denny, Jamaica Run Golf Club 84
30 Christian Hayden, Granville Golf Land 85
T31 Wyatt Wilson, Long Shots Entertainment 86
T31 Paul Macke, PM Golf Lounge 86
T31 Melissa Yeazell, Tri County Golf Ranch 86
34 Ashley Thomas, Mark MacDonald Golf Academy 87
WD Daniel Sorgini, Blacklick Woods Hills  WD
WD Ben Kern, Hickory Hills Golf Club  WD

SENIOR DIVISION

T1 Sam Arnold, Vineyard Golf Course 72
T1 Bob Sowards, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 72
3 Joe Moore, Beavercreek Golf Club 76
4 Mike Thomas, Sharon Woods Golf Course 77
T5 Paul Hollenbaugh, New Albany Country Club – North/East 78
T5 Bob Stephens, PGA Life Member 78
T7 Dave Bahr, Maketewah Country Club 79
T7 Chad Ammer, Maketewah Country Club 79
9 Larry King, Tri County Golf Ranch 81
10 Brad Loomis, Miami View Golf Club 83
WD Tom Bach, Heatherwoode Golf Club WD 
NC Tim Krapfel, Golf Galaxy – Dublin NC 

ASSOCIATE DIVISION

T1 Jon McDonald, Sycamore Creek Country Club 79
T1 Max Helgreen, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 79
3 Taylor Holt, The Lakes Golf & Country Club 85